THE FRUIT OF THE CHRISTMAS-TREE
Age, twine thy brows with fresh spring flowers,
And call a train of laughing hours;
And bid them dance, and bid them sing:
And thou, too, mingle in the ring.
WORDSWORTH
The 12th of January was the last day before James and Louis meant to
return to Oxford, Jem taking Clara on from thence to school. It was to
be the farewell to Christmas--one much enjoyed in Dynevor Terrace.
Fitzjocelyn's absence was almost a relief to Clara; she could not make
up her mind to see him till she could hope their last encounter had
been forgotten; and in the mean time, her anticipations were fixed on
the great 12th. She was aware of what the entertainment would consist,
but was in honour bound to conceal her knowledge from Virginia and
Louisa, who on their side affected great excitement and curiosity, and
made every ostentation of guessing and peeping. Gifts were smuggled
into the house from every quarter--some to take their chance, some
directed with mottoes droll or affectionate. Clara prepared a few
trifles, in which she showed that school had done something for her
fingers, and committed her little parcels to her brother's care; and
Miss Mercy was the happiest of all, continually knocking at the locked
door of the back drawing-room with gilded fir cones, painted banners,
or moss birds'-nests, from Miss Salome.
Miss King and Isabel had undertaken the main business. When roused
from her pensive stillness, Isabel could be very eager, active, and
animated; and she worked with the exhilaration that she could freely
enjoy when unrestrained by perceiving that she was wanted to produce an
effect. What woman's height and hand could not perform fell to the
share of James, who, with his step-ladder and dexterous hands, was
invaluable. Merrily, merrily did the three work, laughing over their
suspended bonbons, their droll contrivances, or predicting the
adaptations of their gifts; and more and more gay was the laugh, the
tutor more piquant, the governess more keen and clever, the young lady
more vivacious, as the twilight darkened, and the tree became more
laden, and the streamers and glass balls produced a more brilliant
effect.
Proudly, when the task was accomplished, did they contemplate their
work, and predict the aspect of their tinsel and frippery when duly
lighted up. Then, as they dispersed to dress, James ran home, and
hastily tapped at his sister's door.
'What is the matter?' she cried. 'Have the tassels come off my purse?'
'Nothing of the kind, but--' he came quite in, and looked round
restlessly, then hastily said, 'You gave me nothing for Miss Conway.'
'I wished it very much,' said Clara, 'but I could not bear to do
anything trumpery for her. Oh, if one could give her anything worth
having!'
'Clara, I had thought--but I did not know if you would like to part
with it--'
'I had thought of it too,' said Clara; 'but I thought you would not
like it to be given away.'
Pulling out a drawer, she opened an odd little box of queer
curiosities, whence she took a case containing an exquisite ivory
carving, a copy of the 'Madonna della Sedia,' so fine that a magnifier
alone could fully reveal the delicacy and accuracy of the features and
expression. It was mounted as a bracelet clasp, and was a remnant of
poor Mr. Dynevor's treasures. It had been given to Mrs. Henry Frost,
and had descended to her daughter.
'Should you be willing?' wistfully asked James.
'That I should! I have longed to give her what she would really care
for. She has been so very kind--and her kindness is so very sweet in
its graciousness! I shall always be the happier for the very thinking
of it.'
'I am glad--' began Jem, warmly; but, breaking off, he added--'This
would make us all more comfortable. It would lessen the weight of
obligation, and that would be satisfactory to you.'
'I don't know. I like people to be so kind, that I can't feel as if I
would pay them off, but as if I could do nothing but love them.'
'You did not imagine that I rate this as repayment!'
'Oh! no, no!'
'No! it is rather that nothing can be too precious--' then
pausing--'You are sure you are willing, Clary?'
'Only too glad. I like it to be something valuable to us as well as in
itself. If I only had a bit of black velvet, I could set it up.'
In ten minutes, Jem had speeded to a shop and back again, and stood by
as Clara stitched the clasp to the ribbon velvet; while there was an
amicable dispute, he insisting that the envelope should bear only the
initials of the true donor, and she maintaining that 'he gave the black
velvet.' She had her way, and wrote, 'From her grateful C. F. D. and
J. R. F. D.;' and as James took the little packet, he thanked her with
an affectionate kiss--a thing so unprecedented at an irregular hour,
that Clara's heart leapt up, and she felt rewarded for any semblance of
sacrifice.
He told his grandmother that he had agreed with his sister that they
could do no otherwise than present the ivory clasp; and Mrs. Frost, who
had no specially tender associations with it, was satisfied to find
that they had anything worth offering on equal terms.
She was to be of the party, and setting forth, they, found the House
Beautiful upside down--even the Faithfull parlour devoted to shawls and
bonnets, and the two good old sisters in the drawing-room; Miss Salome,
under the protection of little Louisa, in an easy chair, opposite the
folding doors. Small children were clustered in shy groups round their
respective keepers. Lady Conway was receiving her guests with the
smile so engaging at first sight, Isabel moving from one to the other
with stately grace and courtesy, Virginia watching for Clara, and both
becoming merged in a mass of white skirts and glossy heads, occupying a
wide area. Mrs. Frost was rapturously surrounded by half-a-dozen young
men, Sydney Calcott foremost, former pupils enchanted to see her, and
keeping possession of her all the rest of the evening. She was a
dangerous person to invite, for the Northwold youth had no eyes but for
her.
The children were presently taken down to tea in the dining-room by
Miss King and Miss Mercy; and presently a chorus of little voices and
peals of laughter broke out, confirming the fact, whispered by Delaford
to his lady, that Lord Fitzjocelyn had arrived, and had joined the
downstairs party.
While coffee went round in the drawing-room, Isabel glided out to
perform the lighting process.
'Oh, Mr. Dynevor!' she exclaimed, finding him at her side, 'I did not
mean to call you away.'
'Mere unreason to think of the performance alone,' said James, setting
up his trusty ladder. 'What would become of that black lace?'
'Thank you, it may be safer and quicker.'
'So far the evening is most successful,' said Jem, lighting above as
she lighted below.
'That it is! I like Northwold better than any place I have been in
since I left Thornton Conway. There is so much more heartiness and
friendliness here than in ordinary society.
'I think Fitzjocelyn's open sympathies have conduced--'
Isabel laughed, and he checked himself, disconcerted.
'I beg your pardon,' she said; 'I was amused at the force of habit. If
I were to say the Terrace chimneys did not smoke, you would say it was
Lord Fitzjocelyn's doing.'
'Do not bid me do otherwise than keep him in mind.'
Down fell the highest candle: the hot wax dropping on Isabel's arm
caused her to exclaim, bringing Jem down in horror, crying, 'I have
hurt you! you are burnt!'
'Oh no, only startled. There is no harm done, you see,' as she cracked
away the cooled wax--'not even a mark to remind me of this happy
Christmas.'
'And it has been a happy Christmas to you,' he said, remounting.
'Most happy. Nothing has been so peaceful or satisfactory in my
wandering life.'
'Shall I find you here at Easter?'
'I fear not. Mamma likes to be in London early; but perhaps she may
leave the school-room party here, as Louisa is gaining so much ground,
and that would be a pledge of our return.'
'Too much joy,' said James, almost inaudibly.
'I hope Walter may spend his holidays here,' she pursued. 'It is a
great thing for him to be with any one who can put a few right notions
into his head.'
Jem abstained from, as usual, proposing Fitzjocelyn for his example,
but only said that Walter was very susceptible of good impressions.
'And most heartily we thank you for all you have done for him,' said
Isabel, doubting whether Walter's mother appreciated the full extent of
it; 'indeed, we have all a great deal to thank you for. I hope my
sisters and I may be the better all our lives for the helps and
explanations you have given to us. Is that the last candle? How
beautiful! We must open.'
'Miss Conway--'
'Yes'--she paused with her hand on the key.
'No, no--do not wait,' taking the key himself. 'Yet--yes, I must--I
must thank you for such words--'
'My words?' said Isabel, smiling. 'For thanking you, or being happy
here?'
'Both! both! Those words will be my never-failing charm. You little
guess how I shall live on the remembrance. Oh, if I could only convey
to you what feelings you have excited--'
The words broke from him as if beyond his control, and under the
pressing need of not wasting the tapers, he instinctively unlocked the
door as he spoke, and cut himself short by turning the handle, perhaps
without knowing what he was about.
Instantly Lady Conway and Miss King each pushed a folding leaf, Isabel
and James drew back on either side, and the spectators beheld the tall
glistening evergreen, illuminated with countless little spires of
light, glancing out among the dark leaves, and reflected from the gilt
fir-cones, glass balls, and brilliant toys.
'Sister! sister!' cried Miss Mercy, standing by Miss Faithfull's chair,
in the rear of the throng, and seizing her hand in ecstasy; 'it is like
a dream! like what we have read of! Oh, the dear little children! So
very kind of Lady Conway! Could you have imagined--?' She quite gasped.
'It is very pretty, but it was a nicer Christmas-tree last year at Lady
Runnymede's,' said Louisa, with the air of a critic. 'There we had
coloured lamps.'
'Little fastidious puss!' said Louis, 'I thought you keeping in the
background out of politeness; but I see you are only blasee with
Christmas-trees. I pity you! I could no more be critical at such a
moment than I could analyse the jewels in Aladdin's cave.'
'Oh, if you and Miss Faithfull talk, Cousin Fitzjocelyn, you will make
it seem quite new.'
'You will deride the freshness of our simplicity,' said Louis, but
presently added, 'Miss Salome, have we not awakened to the enchanted
land? Did ever mortal tree bear stars of living flame? Here are
realized the fabled apples of gold--nay, the fir-cones of Nineveh, the
jewel-fruits of Eastern story, depend from the same bough. Yonder lamps
shine by fairy spell.'
'Now, Cousin Fitzjocelyn, do you think I suppose you so silly--'
'Soft! The Dryad of the Enchanted Bower advances. Her floating robes,
her holly crown, beseem her queenly charms.'
'As if you did not know that it is only Isabel!'
'Only! May the word be forgiven to a sister! Isabel! The name is
all-expressive.'
'She is looking even more lovely than usual,' said Miss Faithfull. 'I
never saw such a countenance.'
'She has a colour to-night,' added Miss Mercy, 'which does, as you say,
make her handsomer than ever. Dear! dear! I hope she is not tired. I
am so sorry I did not help her to light the tree!'
'I do not think it is fatigue,' said her sister. 'I hope it is
animation and enjoyment--all I have ever thought wanting to that sweet
face.'
'You are as bad as my prosaic cousin,' said Louis, 'disenchanting the
magic bower and the wood-nymph into fir, wax, and modern young
ladyhood.'
'There, cousin, it is you who have called her a modern young lady.'
Before Louisa had expressed her indignation, there was a call for her.
'The Sovereign of the Bower beckons,' said Louis. 'Favoured damsel,
know how to deserve her smiles. Fairy gifts remain not with the
unworthy.'
As he put her forward, some one made way for her. It was Mary, and he
blushed at perceiving that she must have heard all his rhodomontade.
As if to make amends, he paused, and asked for Mrs. Ponsonby.
'Much more comfortable to-night, thank you;' and the pleasant, honest
look of her friendly eyes relieved him by not reproaching him.
'I wish she were here. It is a prettier, more visionary sight than I
could have conceived.'
'I wish she could see it; but she feared the crowd. Many people in a
room seem to stifle her. Is Lord Ormersfield here?'
'No, it would not be his element. But imagine his having taken to
walking with me! I really think he will miss me.'
'Really?' said Mary, amused.
'It is presumptuous; but he does not see well at night, and is not
quite broken in to his spectacles. Mary, I hope you will walk over to
see after him. Nothing would be so good for him as walking you back,
and staying to dinner with you. Go right into the library; he would be
greatly pleased. Can't you make some book excuse? And you have the
cottages to see. The people inaugurated the boilers with Christmas
puddings.'
'Mr. Holdsworth told us how pleased they were. And the Norrises?'
'Mrs. Norris is delighted; she has found a woman to wash, and says it
will save her a maid. The people can get milk now: I assure you they
look more wholesome already! And Beecher has actually asked for two
more houses in emulation. And Richardson found himself turned over to
me!'
'Oh, that's right.'
'I've been at the plans all the afternoon. I see how to contrive the
fireplace in the back room, that we could not have in the first set,
and make them cheaper, too. My father has really made a point of that
old decrepit Hailes being moved from Marksedge; and Mary, he, and
Richardson mean Inglewood to be made over to me for good. I am to put
in a bailiff, and do as I can with it--have the profits or bear the
losses. I think I have an idea--'
In spite of her willingness to hear the idea, Mary could not help
asking, 'Have you sent off the Police article?'
'Hush, Mary; it is my prime object to have it well forgotten.'
'Oh! did not Sir Miles like it?'
'He said it wanted liveliness and anecdote. So the Santissima
Hermandad, and all the extraneous history, were sent to him; and then
he was well content, and only wanted me to leave out all the Christian
chivalry--all I cared to say--'
'You don't mean not to finish? Your father was so pleased, Isabel so
much struck! It is a pity--'
'No, no; you may forgive me, Mary--it is not pure laziness. It was
mere rubbish, without the point, which was too strong for the two
politicians; rubbish, any way. Don't tell me to go on with it; it was
a mere trial, much better let it die away. I really have no time; if I
don't mind my own business, I shall be a plucked gosling; and that
would go to his, lordship's heart. Besides, I must get these plans
done. Do you remember where we got the fire-bricks for the ovens?'
Mary was answering, when Walter came bursting through the crowd. 'Where
is he? Fitzjocelyn, it is your turn.'
'Here is a curious specimen for our great naturalist,' said Mrs. Frost,
a glow in her cheeks, and her voice all stifled mirth and mischief.
It was a large nest of moss and horsehair, partly concealed under the
lower branches, and containing two huge eggs streaked and spotted with
azure and vermilion, and a purple and yellow feather, labelled,
'Dropped by the parent animal in her flight, on the discovery of the
nest by the crew of H.M.S. Flying Dutchman. North Greenland, April
1st, 1847. Qu.? Female of Equus Pegasus. Respectfully dedicated to
the Right Honourable Viscount Fitzjocelyn.'
'A fine specimen,' said the Viscount at once, with the air of a
connoisseur, by no means taken by surprise. 'They are not very
uncommon; I found one myself about the same date in the justice-room. I
dare say Mr. Calcott recollects the circumstance.'
'Oh, my dear fellow,' exclaimed Sydney, instead of his father; 'you
need not particularize. You always were a discoverer in that line.'
'True,' said Louis, 'but this is unique. North Greenland--ah! I
thought it was from a Frosty country. Ha, Clara?'
'Not I; I know nothing of it,' cried Clara, in hurry and confusion, not
yet able to be suspected of taking liberties with him.
'No?' said Louis, turning about his acquisition; 'I thought I knew the
female that laid these eggs. The proper name is, I fancy, Glacies
Dynevorensis--var. Catharina--perhaps--'
Walter and Louisa had brought their mother to see the nest, the point
of which she comprehended as little as they; and not understanding how
much amusement was betokened by her nephew's gravity, she protested
that none of her party had devised it, nor even been privy to it, and
that Mr. Dynevor must bear the blame, but he was very busy detaching
the prizes from the tree, and hastily denied any concern with it. Aunt
Catharine was obliged to console Lady Conway, and enchant Louis by
owning herself the sole culprit, with no aid but Miss Mercy's.
Together they had disposed the nest in its right locality, as soon as
the Earl's absence was secure.
'I had not courage for it before him,' she laughed. 'As for this
fellow, I knew he would esteem it a compliment.'
'As a tribute to his imagination?' said Isabel, who, in her mood of
benevolence, could be struck with the happy understanding between aunt
and nephew revealed by such a joke, so received.
'It would be a curious research,' said Louis, 'whether more of these
nidifications result from over-imagination or the want of it.'
'Often from want of imagination, and no want of cowardice,' said Isabel.
'That sort of nest has not illuminated eggs like these,' said Louis.
'They are generally extremely full of gunpowder, and might be painted
with a skull and crossbones. I say, Clara, has Aunt Kitty considered
the consequences? She has sacrificed her ostrich eggs! I can never
part with these original productions of her genius.'
He exhibited his mare's nest with his own gay bonhommie to all who were
curious, and presently, when every one's attention had been again
recalled to the wonders which Isabel was distributing, and he had
turned aside to dispose of his treasure, he heard a sound of soliloquy
half aloud, 'I wonder whether she has it!' from Clara, who stood a
little apart.
'What?' asked Louia.
'My ivory clasp with the Madonna,' said Clara. 'Jem and I thought it
the only thing worthy of Miss Conway.'
'Hem!' said Louis; 'it is not your fault, Clara; but it would be
graceful to learn to receive a favour.'
'A favour, but not a grand thing like this,' said Clara, showing a
beautiful little case of working implements.
'Hardly worth, even intrinsically, your mother's bracelet,' said Louis.
'But I am not going to talk treason to the family doctrine, though it
is very inconvenient to your friends.'
'Then you think we ought not to have done it?'
'That depends on what I can't decide.'
'What's that?'
'Whether you give it out of love or out of pride.'
'I think we gave it out of one, and excused it by the other.'
'Very satisfactory. To reward you, here is something for you to do. I
shall never get at Aunt Kitty to-night. I see the midshipman, young
Brewster, will not relinquish her; so will you or will she administer
this letter to the Lady of Eachalott?'
'You don't mean that is Tom Madison!' exclaimed Clara. 'Why, it is
like copper-plate. No more Fitsgoslings!'
'No, indeed! Is he not a clever fellow? He has just reached the stage
of civilization that breaks out in dictionary words. I have been, in
return, telling him the story of the Irish schoolmaster who puzzled the
magistrate's bench by a petition about a small cornuted animal, meaning
a kid. But I should think it would be very edifying to Charlotte to
see herself commemorated as the individual at the Terrace, and his
grandfather as his aged relative. He sends the old man ten shillings
this time, for he is promoted. Don't you think I may be proud of him?
Is Mary gone home? She must hear about him.'
As he turned away in search of Mary, Clara felt a soft hand on her
shoulder, and Isabel beckoned her to follow into the back drawing-room,
where the tree was burnt out and deserted.
'I may thank _you_,' said Isabel, in a low, sweet voice, pressing her
hand.
'And Jem,' said Clara; 'he thought of it first.'
'It is the most beautiful Christmas gift; but I do not like for you to
part with it, my dear.'
'We both wished it, and grandmamma gave leave. We longed for you to
have something we prized like this, for it belonged to my mamma. It is
Jem's present too, for he went out and bought the black velvet.'
'Clasp it on for me, dear Clara. There!' and Isabel kissed the fingers
which obeyed. 'It shall never leave my arm.'
Clara's face burnt with surprise and pleasure amounting to
embarrassment, as Isabel expressed hopes of meeting again, and engaged
her to write from school. She looked for her brother to take his share
of thanks; but he was determinately doing his duty in cutting chicken
and cake for those who desired supper, and he did not come in their way
again till all the guests were gone, and good-night and good-bye were
to be said at once.
Lady Conway was warm in expressing her hopes that Walter would enjoy
the same advantages another holidays, and told Mr. Dynevor she should
write to him. But Jem made little answer, nothing like a promise.
Clara thought he had become stiff from some unknown affront, perhaps
some oppressive present, for he seemed to intend to include all the
young ladies in one farewell bow. But Isabel advanced with
outstretched hand and flushing cheek, and her murmured 'Thank you' and
confiding pressure drew from him such a grasp as could not easily be
forgotten.
Clara's heart was all the lighter because she was sure that Fitzjocelyn
had forgiven, and, what was more, forgotten. She had spoken naturally
to him once more, and was ready for anything now--even though they had
missed all confidential discussions upon school.
She gave Charlotte Tom Madison's letter. The little maiden took it,
and twirled it about rather superciliously. 'What business had my
young Lord,' she thought, 'to fancy she cared for that poor fellow?
Very likely he was improved, and she was glad of it, but she knew what
was genteel now. Yes, she would read it at once; there was no fear
that it would make her soft and foolish--she had got above that!'